City soldier killed in Afghanistan

A SOLDIER from Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles was killed at a vehicle checkpoint in southern Afghanistan today, the Ministry of Defence said.

The serviceman was the second member of UK forces in two days to be shot dead near Sangin in the north of Helmand Province.

He died after coming under fire this morning while part of a team partnering Afghan soldiers at the checkpoint.

His family have been informed.

His death was not connected to Operation Moshtarak.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is my sad duty to inform you that a British soldier from 3 Rifles was killed by small arms fire this morning in Sangin, northern Helmand.

"He was part of team from 3 Rifles partnering Afghan National Army soldiers at a vehicle checkpoint to the south-east of Sangin District Centre, when the checkpoint was fired on.

"He died protecting the people of Sangin. He will be sorely missed by us, his comrades. We will remember him."

The second soldier, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, serving as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group, was shot dead on a foot patrol north-east of Sangin yesterday. He is expected to be named later today.

Neither death was connected to the ongoing Operation Moshtarak to clear the Taliban out of strongholds in Helmand.

A total of 268 British troops have died since military operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.